Tableware for portion control

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a set of tableware for portion control, which includes: a meal plate, a cup, a soup/cereal bowl, a pizza/cake plate, and a snack/ice-cream bowl. Such tableware features architectural barriers for pre-determined portion sizes, representative colors and keywords that correspond to food groups and/or food items, and portholes that serve as an additional guard against overfilling through siphoning off and/or as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/162,382, entitled “TABLEWARE FOR PORTION CONTROL” and filed on Mar. 23, 2009. The teachings of the entire referenced application are incorporated herein by references.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to tableware designed to streamline the process of “rightsizing” food portions in an effort to address a major cause of the childhood obesity epidemic oversized portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A portion is the amount of food someone chooses, which is any random amount they decide to put on their plate. A U.S.D.A. (United States Department of Agriculture) recommended serving size is not at all random; it is a precise, measurable and standardized amount for particular food that details the nutrients or calories for that serving. Despite serving size labels on all packaged food in the U.S., and despite widespread evidence that people are not able to choose appropriate food portions without a visual cue, parents are generally not in the habit of measuring the portions of food they serve their family.

The number of steps and the mess involved in measuring each type of food can overwhelm even the most motivated parent and keep them from undertaking the time consuming process of: 1) reading products for serving size; 2) getting the correct measuring device; 3) measuring the portion; 4) leveling off the portion; 5) transferring the portion to tableware; 6) cleaning the measuring device; and 7) repeating for each serving by food type in meal, e.g. one dry measuring cup for cereal and one wet for milk, a third separate clean measuring cup for orange juice. The present invention, referred to in this application as “Fit Kid tableware”, streamlines the process of “right-sizing” portions by eliminating the steps and mess of using separate measuring devices and tableware. Such Fit Kid tableware provides divided sections that hold accurate serving sizes by food group—getting the serving size onto the dish for all meals, as well as snacks, desserts, pizza and drinks. In the same fashion as pre-measured cups and utensils are used to ensure that children receive the correct dosage of medicines, Fit Kid tableware ensures that children receive the appropriate USDA recommended serving sizes of foods, liquids, and snacks.

Each piece of Fit Kid tableware physically measures the amount of food that it can hold/contain. The pre-measured tableware pieces incorporate distinctive visual cues in order to simplify the process of feeding a child appropriate portions. When a parent is serving their child with Fit Kid tableware, overfeeding becomes a more difficult, deliberate and conscious process.

Most importantly, Fit Kid tableware functions as an affordable, accessible and vital teaching tool for families. By using the invention regularly, parents and children develop the habit and are empowered with the life skill of choosing the right foods in the right amounts. Families who form these healthy eating habits together and early on in a child's development will not need to cope with more costly, stigmatizing, and potentially life threatening issues that a lifetime of overeating causes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The unique design features of Fit Kid tableware include:

-   -   1) Representative colors and key words     -   2) Architectural barriers     -   3) Whimsical portholes

Function of the Color Scheme/Key Words:

First, key words featured on the pieces instruct or suggest to the user what foods to serve in each section of each piece. The representative colors of Fit Kid tableware pieces were chosen to approximate the colors used in the current (March, 2009) USDA guidelines for a balanced diet (www.mypyramid.gov). The Fit Kid tableware pieces feature a similar representative color for proteins, a similar representative color for grains, and a similar representative color for fruits and vegetables. The key words and representative colors may be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. For example, but not limited to, orange represents proteins, yellow represents grains, and green represents fruits and vegetables, corresponding to the current food pyramid. These key words and representative colors help parents and kids make associations for what foods belong in which tableware piece.

Function of the Architectural Barriers:

Every piece of Fit Kid tableware prominently features architectural barriers. The size and type of architectural barriers may be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. Architectural barriers that could be used may include, terraces, depressions, walls and demarcations, and other barriers that measure the quantity of food within the barriers. Depressions allow for filling specific volumes in many pieces. The retaining wall feature of the pizza/cake plate will not accommodate a pizza slice that is too large. Walls and demarcations prevent specific food groups from spilling over into another designated food group serving area. In general, the architectural barriers prevent over-filling or misusing tableware pieces.

Function of the “Portholes”:

Portholes are featured along the upper perimeter of Fit Kid tableware. On the bowls and the cups, portholes cover a section of the perimeter to serve as a visual cue and potentially allow overfilled contents to leak from the bowl or cup while allowing drinking without spilling from the section of the perimeter without portholes. For example, ⅔ of the perimeter may have portholes, leaving ⅓ of the perimeter without portholes to allow drinking without spilling. The size, shape, number, and coverage of the portholes may be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. The portholes are openings, slits or any other form of holes designed to physically guard against overfilling and overeating as they siphon off liquid and semi-solids that exceed the recommended serving sizes. The portholes also serve as a visual reminder not to fill above or outside the designated serving sections.

In summary, the present invention includes uniquely designed tableware that visually right-sizes portions, such as a Meal Plate, Drinking Cup, Cereal/Soup Bowl, Pizza/Cake Plate, and Ice Cream/Snack Bowl. This invention provides novel, easy to use tableware, which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. It also helps children develop the lifetime habit of choosing healthy food portions. In addition, the inventors created the Fit Kid tableware Guidebook for people using Fit Kid tableware.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a top plan view of the Meal Plate in the Fit Kid tableware.

FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of the Cup in the Fit Kid tableware.

FIG. 3 presents a top plan view and a perspective view of the Cereal/Soup Bowl in the Fit Kid tableware.

FIG. 4 presents a top plan view and a perspective view of the Pizza/Cake Plate in the Fit Kid tableware.

FIG. 5 presents a top plan view and a perspective view of the Ice Cream/Snack Bowl in the Fit Kid tableware.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments may be understood by referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, which depict top plan views and perspective views of the Fit Kid tableware.

Function/Use of Each Fit Kid Tableware Piece: Meal Plate:

The meal plate features architectural barriers (walls and depressions) that control/allow for pre-determined portion sizes. Incorporating the current USDA recommendations, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one-half of the plate has depressions and walls that allow for a one-cup serving size of fruits and/or vegetables. The remaining two one-quarter sections have depressions and walls that allow for a one-half cup serving size of meats/proteins in one side and a one-half cup serving size of grains in the other.

The meal plate features representative colors and key words those are consistent throughout the Fit Kid tableware. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the representative colors and keywords closely correspond to the current. USDA balanced diet recommendations. One-half of the plate features the representative color green and key words: fruits and vegetables. The remaining one-quarter sections feature the representative color orange and key word: proteins, and the representative color yellow and the key word: grains, respectively.

The meal plate features portholes (1) that surround the outer rim. The portholes prevent overfilling of liquids and semi-solid foods beyond the designated serving areas. They also serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections. The meal plate may be varied to incorporate additional elements, as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1 where a space has been incorporated to accommodate a cup holder (2) in one corner of the meal plate.

Except the basis design, the size, the color, and the shape of the meal plate could be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. For example, but not limited to, the meal plate could be 8 inches or within a range of 6-12 inches. FIG. 1 shows one of the embodiments of this invention.

Drinking Cup:

The drinking cup features architectural barriers of upward terracing, allowing for gradually increasing portions to a maximum of 8 fluid ounces or 250 milliliters.

The drinking cup features representative colors and key words that correspond to the amount of liquid recommended.

The drinking cup features portholes (3) around a section of the upper perimeter that serve as an additional guard against overfilling and will siphon off any excessive liquids. They also serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of this invention. For example, FIG. 2 presents a drinking cup which can hold eight ounces liquid.

Except the basis design, the size, the color, and the shape of the drinking cup could be varied according to manufacture or business purposes.

Soup/Cereal Bowl:

The soup/cereal bowl features the architectural barriers of terracing. One terrace allows for the recommended dry, level, one-cup cereal serving size. The other terrace allows for the addition of one-half a cup of milk. Additionally, one terrace allows for a one-cup serving size of soup.

The soup/cereal bowl features the consistent representative color for cereal grains (and complementary representative color for dairy proteins) and key words “cereal” and “milk” for further instructions.

The soup/cereal bowl features portholes (4) along a section of the perimeter to prevent overfilling beyond the pre-marked, terraced sections by siphoning off any excessive portions. They also serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections.

Except the basis design, the size, the color, and the shape of the cereal bowl could be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of this invention.

Pizza/Cake Plate:

The pizza/cake plate features an architectural barrier that is the surrounding walls designed to accommodate a pizza slice that is ⅛ of a medium (12 inch) pizza pie, or a cake slice that is 1/12 of an eight-inch diameter cake. A larger slice will not fit within the walls and indicates to a parent or child that the slice/portion size is too big.

The pizza/cake plate features the consistent representative colors for grains and for proteins. The key words “pizza” and “cake” are featured to indicate what the tableware piece is used for and where the food items are served/measured. Portholes (5) along the perimeter serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections.

Except the basis design, the size, the color, and the shape of the pizza/cake plate could be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of this invention.

Snack/Ice Cream Bowl:

The snack/ice-cream bowl features architectural barriers of terracing that allow for a level one-quarter cup serving size appropriate for candy and other snacks. Another terrace allows for a one-half cup serving size for ice cream.

The snack/ice-cream bowl features the consistent representative color for grains in the snack section, and the representative color for (milk) protein in the ice cream section. Key words “snacks” and “ice cream” indicate the use for this kit piece.

The snack/ice-cream bowl features portholes (6) around a section of the upper perimeter, which serve as an additional guard against overfilling and will siphon off excessive liquids or semi-solid foods. They also serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections.

Except the basis design, the size, the color, and the shape of the snack/ice cream bowl could be varied according to manufacture or business purposes. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of this invention.

Although the tableware presented here and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the present invention and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention. 

1. A meal plate for portion control comprising: architectural barriers (walls and depressions) that control/allow for pre-determined portion sizes, representative colors and keywords that correspond to food items and groups approximating current balanced diet recommendations, and portholes that surround the outer rim of said meal plate.
 2. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the portholes that surround the outer rim of said meal plate are used to serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections and prevent overfilling of semi-solid foods beyond the designated serving area.
 3. The meal plate of claim 1 further comprising a cup holder in one corner of said meal plate.
 4. A cup for portion control comprising: upward terracing architectural barriers that allow for gradually increasing portions to a maximum of 8 fluid ounces or 240 milliliters, representative colors and keywords that correspond to the amount of liquid recommended for said liquid, and portholes around a section of the upper perimeter.
 5. The drinking cup of claim 4, wherein the portholes serve as an additional guard against overfilling through siphoning off any excessive liquid and serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections
 6. A soup/cereal bowl for portion control comprising: terracing architectural barriers wherein one terrace allows for the recommended dry level one-cup cereal serving size or one-cup serving size of soup and another terrace allows for the addition of one-half cup of milk, representative colors and keywords that correspond to cereal portion and milk portion, and portholes along a section of the perimeter.
 7. The soup/cereal bowl of claim 6, wherein the portholes are used to prevent overfilling beyond the pre-marked, terraced sections through siphoning off any excessive portion and serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections.
 8. A pizza/cake plate for portion control comprising: an architectural barrier that is the surrounding walls designed to accommodate a pizza slice that is ⅛ of a medium (12 inch) pizza pie or a cake slice that is 1/12 of an eight-inch diameter cake, representative colors and keywords that correspond to grains and proteins and/or pizza or cake, and portholes along the perimeter.
 9. The pizza/cake plate of claim 8, wherein the portholes serve as a visual reminder to consciously put food in the designated sections.
 10. A snack/ice-cream bowl for portion control comprising: terracing architectural barriers wherein one terrace allows for a level one-quarter cup serving size appropriate for candy and other snacks and another terrace allows for a one-half cup serving size for ice cream and other snacks, representative colors and keywords that correspond to snacks and ice cream in their corresponding terraced sections, and portholes around a section of the upper perimeter.
 11. The snack/ice-cream bowl of claim 10 in which the portholes around a section of the upper perimeter serve as a visual reminder to limit food to the designated sections and serve as an additional guard against overfilling through siphoning off excessive liquid or semi-solid food.
 12. A set of tableware for portion control chooses from a meal plate in claim 1, a cup in claim 4, a soup/cereal bowl in claim 6, a pizza/cake plate in claim 8, a snack/ice-cream bowl in claim 10 or any or all combination of above tableware. 